Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Announced

The next main entry in the long-running strategy series Sid Meier’s Civilization was announced today and the wait will not be long. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is scheduled to release on October 21st of this year and will be exclusive to PC. The series saw some major changes with the release of Civilization V in 2010 with the removal of unit-stacking and a switch from a square grid to a hexagonal one. The sixth game will be making plenty of innovations to change up the tactical gameplay.

Cities will no longer be based around a single tile and will instead have their functions spread across large amounts of land. Buildings that previously crowded together into a single space will now be spread out as their own individual structures, such as the various World Wonders that offer unique benefits to your civilization. Not only will individual tiles and their development matter now more than ever before, it will also make engaging in sieges far more complex. Both attackers and defenders alike will have to divide their attention across multiple targets and make judgement calls on what’s the most valuable.

Scientific research will also be seeing a major change as it will no longer be a simple matter of climbing your way through the tech tree. There will now be specific quests tied to many of your scientific breakthroughs that will uncover new technology more quickly if you complete them. It will still be possible to unlock technologies without completing these quests, but they will make developing certain inventions easier for those who should logically have an advantage.

Finally, combat will feature a reserved return to the stacking mechanic. It won’t be the same as the infinite legions of death that were seen in Civilization IV as only a few units can share a single tile and there are several restrictions on what specific units can stack together. Support units can stack with combat units, such as an anti-tank team standing with infantry, allowing the support to carry out their dedicated role while the soldiers offer protection from direct combat. It will also be possible to stack two similar units together to form an especially strong Corps unit. This new system should allow for more synergy between your troops while preventing the Zerg-rush mentality of the past.

What are your thoughts on the big changes coming to Sid Meier’s Civilization VI? Which civilizations do you want to see on the playable roster this time around? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.